Idaho Happenings

"The 3100™" Makes a Splash at the Sun Valley Film Festival Visit Idaho's acclaimed whitewater film and docuseries, "The 3100™", continues to make waves. The Bruneau River episode of the docuseries has been selected for the Sun Valley Film Festival (SVFF). “The 3100” highlights stretches of Idaho’s 3,100 navigable whitewater miles—more than any other state in the Lower 48—including the Selway, Bruneau, Salmon, Snake, Payette, Lochsa and St. Joe rivers. SVFF showcases breakthrough premieres, honors influential filmmakers and supports Idaho’s creative community. Now held in December, the festival’s new dates enhance its appeal as an awards-season destination. The festival runs Dec. 3-7. Watch the Bruneau River episode on Visit Idaho's YouTube channel. Idaho Ski Areas Add Terrain, Tech & Winter Thrills The 2025-26 ski season brings milestones, fresh runs, expanded snowmaking and much more across Idaho's mountains. Sun Valley Resort celebrates its 90th season with 90 acres of newly gladed terrain between its Canyon, Exhibition and Olympic runs - part of a forest-stewardship partnership that improves forest health and provides firewood to local Native American communities. Guests will also find RFID lift access, explanded multiday clinics, and the debut of Sunny's Adventure Park at Dollar Mountain. Bogus Basin is one of only three North American resorts piloting Finnish snow-storage technology to preserve 11 acre-feet (about 2.6 million gallons) of snow from last winter. The nation's largest nonprofit ski area also unveils a fully remodeled, ADA-accessible Pioneer Lodge and new energy-efficient snow guns. Tamarack Resort adds 60 acres of advanced terrain carved from the site of last summer's Rock Fire. Expanded snowmaking and Nordic offerings join a new ticketing approach design to reduce on-mountain congestion and enhance guest experience. Brundage Mountain debuts the Centennial Express high-speed quad, increasing uphill capacity by 60% and offering faster access to its famed powder runs. Lookout Pass completes its Eagle Peak expansion, adding 500 vertical feet and increasing skiable acreage to more than 1,000 acres. Find complete ski-area updates (including opening dates) at skiidaho.us. Inspiration Wellness Meets Winter Adventure The coming new year invites the perfect time for a reset. In Idaho, wellness travel feels as natural as the landscape itself, where mountain-town spas and mineral hot springs offer opportunities for a rejuvenating winter getaway. At The Spa at Sun Valley Resort, guests can move from steam to hydrotherapy soaks and on to messages infused with mountain botanicals. The Spa's Nordic Bathing Ritual - a tea-tree and eucalyptus-scented steam shower followed by a cool plunge - sets the standard for body restoration. In McCall, The Cove at Shore Lodge offers an elemental escape on the shores of Payette Lake. Indoor and outdoor saltwater immersion pools, a cedar-scented steam room and treatments inspired by the surrounding forest create a serene rhythm between luxury and nature. Along the Bear River in southeastern Idaho, Maple Grove Hot Springs embraces simplicity and ritual. Geothermal soaking pools, a wood-fired riverside sauna and starlit yoga sessions define this off-grid retreat, where guests disconnect and find balance in nature. In northern Idaho, winter renewal finds a lakeside home. The Coeur d'Alene Resort hosts seasonal Live Well overnight spa retreats with guided mindfulness workshops and lakeside yoga, while Spa Ssakwa'q'n at the Coeur d'Alene Casino Resort Hotel complements the experience with holistic treatments and monthly spa specials rooted in tradition. Destination Spotlight Ice, Lights & Local Flavor: Welcome to Caldwell Winter in Caldwell shines brightly at Indian Creek Plaza, where a million twinkling lights reflect off ice and create a dazzling downtown scene. Idaho's only ice skating ribbon winds through the plaza, inviting skaters to glide beneath glowing archways and past festively lit storefronts as music fills the air. Fire pits and heated seating offer cozy spots to sip hot cocoa or a glass of local wine from nearby Sunnyslope Wine Trail vineyards. Just a short walk away, restaurants and tasting rooms add to the seasonal cheer. Don't miss Amano, where James Beard Award-winning chef Salvador Alamilla crafts elevated Mexican cuisine, or drop into Kindred by the Creek for estate-grown wines and wood-fired pizza. With nearby lodging and family-friendly activities, Caldwell makes an ideal winter weekend getaway. Learn more at destinationcaldwell.com. Upcoming Events Lost in Christmas | Burley Nov. 28-Dec. 27 (Fridays & Saturdays only) Idaho's largest straw maze transforms into a glowing winter wonderland, where twinkling lights, giant slides and a zipline create a festive adventure for all ages. Warm up with cocoa in the barn and soak in the holiday spirit under the stars. New Year's Eve at Silver Mountain Resort | Kellogg Dec. 31 The Silver Mountain slopes stay open late for night skiing and extra tubing sessions before guests gather for mountain-side dining and family fun. Fireworks, a festive balloon drop and cozy aprés moments mark the arrival of the new year in style. New Year's Eve in Sun Valley | Ketchum Dec. 31 Sun Valley welcomes the new year with skiing beneath the stars and fireworks over Dollar Mountain to elegant soirées in the village. Music, lights and alpine glamour create a sparkling sendoff to 2025. New Year's Even Party at Tamarack Resort | near Donnelly Dec. 31 A festive mix of mountain adventure and nightlife awaits with night skiing, live DJs and fireworks above the slopes. Guests can celebrate with aprés-ski specials, a torchlight parade and plenty of Idaho-style cheer. Elk River Winterfest | Elk River Jan. 9-10 Small-town charm meets winter fun at this festival, where attendees gather for live music, snow, games, hearty food and bonfires. Fat Pursuit | Island Park Jan. 9-11 Gear up for an exhilarating and challenging winter triathlon, with 60K- or 200K-distance races featuring fat biking, Nordik Skiing and running in snowshoes on snowy backcountry trails. Fire & Ice Winterfest | Lava Hot Springs Feb. 6-7 This spectacle features everything from fire performers and torch-bearing skiers speeding down the mountain in a ribbon of light to a penguin race, a roaming abominable snowman and a polar float parade - where participants don crazy costumes and brave the bone-chilling Portneuf River on float tubes.